Portland’s Bag Fee Passes Council Vote

Paper or plastic? Both will cost you in Portland.

The Portland City Council voted to ban polystyrene food containers last night. Also passed is a 5 cent fee on every bag you take out of a store. The aim of the measure is to curb the litter that the food containers and bags ultimately become.

Both measures take effect on April 15, 2015. Retailers will keep the 5 cent fee. Only stores where food sales (including milk, bread, soda and snacks) is at least 2% of gross sales. It does not apply to dry cleaners, restaurants and farmers markets.